It’s a beautiful September 16th morning on Cape Cod, and I’m headed to Bass River to meet Captain Tyler and fellow MFCC members for an Albie fishing trip.
The sun rises like a bright fireball as I drive, casting an orange glow over the landscape. Pulling into the parking lot, I spot numerous trucks and trailers, a sure sign that many boats are already out on the water.
Captain Tyler is launching the boat as I walk down to the dock, where I meet the other members of our crew for the morning. There's a friendly couple, Richard Vandale and his wife, who have just made Cape Cod their full-time home. There's also a gentleman from New York, Carl Stingle, who has family in nearby Orleans. We’re all excited to get started.
With light winds and calm waters in Nantucket Sound, conditions are perfect as we set out. Tyler lets us know we’ll be taking a longer ride than usual to avoid the cluster of boats likely chasing Albies closer to shore. One of the best things about the captains that Ryan works with on these trips is their willingness to go off the beaten path and find their own fish.
We settle in for an hour-long ride to the rips south of Nantucket, aiming for less pressured waters. As we approach Nantucket, the island and its iconic lighthouse come into view. Tyler speaks with some fellow anglers in the area, and they suggest speeding up until we spot the fish. "Gotta go" is their cue that the bite is on.
M.F.C.C. is a learning environment. Thank you Jeffrey.